GANGSTER CHRONICLES

Are gangster movies making a comeback?

We’re told that Michael Cimino is close to signing (if he hasn’t already) to direct the screen version of Mario Puzo’s “The Sicilian.” Boasted a publicist for producer David Begelman, this isn’t just another Godfather movie: “It’s the story of a 20-year-old named Turi Guiliano who took on the church and the Italian government and was gunned down at an early age.”

Meanwhile, the talk of the Big Apple is a New York magazine excerpt of Nicholas Pileggi’s new book, “Wiseguy,” the life story of gangster Henry Hill.

According to a source close to the negotiations, Pileggi has turned down an offer of about $500,000 cash for the rights and is holding out for more. Literary agent Sterling Lord refused to say what the offers were or who they came from but--”We’ve had two better-than-respectable offers. This thing is hotter than a pistol.”